No joint forces; Maoists regrouping in Jungle Mahal

Top Maoist leader Kishenji has again become active in West Bengal's Jungle Mahal area, according to intelligence reports.

"Kishenji was present in more than one meeting held in Lalgarh and adjacent areas in West Midnapore district in the last half of June, in all probability on June 22 and 23," said the reports.

Joint operations in the area have come to a virtual standstill and six teams of the elite CoBRA force have moved to neighbouring Jharkhand.

People's Committee against Police Atrocities chief Asit Mahato and secretary Manoj Mahato recently held a meeting at Bakisol area in Jhargram.

Suchitra Mahato, the wife of Maoist leader Sasadhar Mahato, who was killed in a police encounter, held another meeting on June 5, according to the reports.

Maoist spokesperson Akash alias Mansaram Hembram and another leader Bikas organised a series of meetings in Lakhanpur, Bagjhora and Madhupur in Jhargram subdivision on June 15, it said.

"A week ago, the Maoists held a condolence meeting at the Kantapahari school grounds for Sidhu Soren, a squad member killed in a police encounter, where all major Maoist leaders of the state were present," they said.

Asked whether the meeting indicated that Maoists were regrouping in the area, intelligence sources said, "It indicates that they are reorganising and restructuring the party which was dismantled by joint operations in the past two years."

Eight Maoist squads headed by Suchitra, Bikash and Akash have become active since the regular searches by the joint forces came to a halt, the report said.

Six of the 18 CoBRA teams in Jungle Mahal have been shifted to neighbouring Jharkhand, according to a Central Reserve Police Force personnel.

The West Bengal government had recently given a call to Maoists to lay down arms, in return for a rehabilitation package.